w/ Ric Hanson

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After a week long trial and two-days of deliberations, a jury in Pottawattamie County handed down a verdict of “Guilty” against a Crescent man facing first- and second-degree kidnapping charges. The Omaha World-Herald reports the decision against 39-year old Bryan Bey was reached Thursday. Bey was accused of kidnapping and assaulting 30-year old Tabitha Proplesch, of Council Bluffs, on March 30th, 2012.The woman was found handcuffed and beaten the next day, in a pickup truck that had run out of gas, west of Crescent.

Bey represented himself at his trial, during which he said authorities lied, destroyed and planted evidence. The trial also featured several heated exchanges between Bey and some witnesses. Bey, and 33-year old Travis Labno, of Omaha, were arrested in connection with the incident. The charges against Labno were later dropped.

Authorities in Page County are investigating a burglary and theft which occurred sometime between April 25th and May 1st, in rural Clarinda.  David Stanley reported to the Page County Sheriff’s Department, that someone entered his home and took a Sharp 37-inch TV, and a cup containing an unknown amount of change. The loss was estimated at $370.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The hunt for a man suspected of shooting a police officer in northwest Iowa has spread to Omaha. Officers surrounded a block about a mile west of downtown Omaha on Thursday night, but Jamal Dean wasn’t found during the 90-minute search.  He’s suspected of shooting Sioux City Police Officer Kevin McCormick. Authorities believe Dean has ties to the Omaha area.

Police say McCormick pulled over a car on Monday afternoon in Sioux City. McCormick was still in his cruiser when a man stepped out of the car and opened fire with a rifle. McCormick was hit in the head by a bullet fragment. He’s been released from a hospital.

A $15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of Dean.

A report in the Daily NonPareil says a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Thursday in Nebraska, for allegedly making terroristic threats against several agencies. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker told the paper 56-year old Paul Grindstaff, of Crescent, was arrested in Omaha after allegedly sending threatening emails Wednesday. Danker said he believed the emails were a response to a custody dispute Grindstaff was involved in concerning his granddaughter.

The emails were not targeted against anyone specifically, but they allegedly contained statements that alluded to the Sandy Hook school shooting and the shooting rampage of ex-Los Angeles Police Department Officer Christopher Dorner. Danker said the mention of those two events certainly caught law enforcement’s attention.

Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said he could not comment on the specifics of the investigation, but he confirmed Grindstaff was apprehended by the Metro Area Task Force Thursday morning and arrested on warrants for suspicion of terroristic threats and first-degree harassment. Wilber told the paper that because Grindstaff was arrested in Omaha, the arrest affidavit will not be released publicly until Grindstaff is returned to Pottawattamie County.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers appear close on a budget deal for the state’s judicial branch. The state House approved a budget yesterday that gives the judiciary a budget of more than $167 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. That’s an increase of nearly $6 million over the current year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-majority Iowa House has approved legislation that would change collective bargaining rules. House lawmakers included the provision in a broad spending bill they approved yesterday. State employees would have to pay 20 percent of their health insurance premiums under the proposal.

MONTICELLO, Iowa (AP) — A snowstorm has delayed repair on a ruptured propane line in eastern Iowa that caused the evacuation of several homes. Crew and equipment hired to fix the line were delayed in Minnesota by poor road conditions. The strong winds are helping disperse the spewing gas. Authorities say a farmer on a tractor struck the above-ground pipeline Wednesday near Monticello.

CLARKSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — One man has been killed and two others injured in a two-vehicle crash in northern Iowa. The roadway was wet with slush at the time of the accident yesterday on Highway 188 near Clarksville. Edward Eilers died after his northbound SUV was struck by an oncoming van. The accident is being investigated.

Atlantic Fire and Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of what was initially thought to be a structure fire at 200 Oak Street. Fire Chief Mark McNees said Atlantic Police Officer Dave Erickson saw flames coming from what he thought was the building, owned by R&B Feeds, at around 9:08-p.m.

Atlantic Fire on the scene at 200 Oak St. Thursday night, near R & B Feeds.

McNees said when the first fire crews arrived, the saw a diesel pickup truck with its engine block plugged in to a core heater, in preparation for use on Friday. He said the electrical cord to the core heater apparently shorted out and caught the engine compartment on fire.

The truck was parked between a delivery truck and some bulk tanks, somewhat hidden from view. McNees credits Officer Erickson for noticing the flames when he did, before the fire spread to the building, approximately four-feet away. McNees said a City of Atlantic Maintenance worker also saw the flames and reported them to 9-1-1, at about the same time. He said when firefighters  first arrived, all the crews could see was a large glow and smoke.  It wasn’t clear at the onset, exactly what was on fire.

Some loud bangs heard shortly after firefighters arrived were the sounds of the front tires of the truck exploding from the heat and flames.The full-sized Ford truck was a total loss.

Firefighters from Griswold and Elliott were called to the scene of a house fire at 305 4th Street Thursday afternoon. The call came in at around 3:36-p.m.

House fire at 305 4th St. in Griswold. (Ric Hanson/Photo)

Griswold Fire Chief Jim Wyman says he was working in his nearby shop when the call came in. He said he looked out and saw black smoke rising from the house, which was owned by one of his firemen, Severin Ritter. Wyman got to the fire station and told his crews to expedite their arrival.

Wyman said Ritter was standing outside, looking very upset, but there was nothing that could be done expect to try and put out the flames. Wyman said while the cause of the fire remains to be determined, it was clear it had been smoldering for at least three or four hours. The house sustained severe damage, but a dollar amount was not immediately available.

Neither Ritter, nor his wife and twin sons were home at the time, but two family pets, a cat and a dog were inside the home. Ritter, who has been a member of the Griswold  Fire Department for the past four-years, managed to rescue the animals before he went to the fire station. They appeared to be in shock and suffering from smoke inhalation.

Family pets rescued from the home of Griswold Firefighter Severin Ritter.

The cat’s fur was apparently singed as well. None of the fire fighters or anyone else was injured during the blaze. The family was expected to stay with relatives in the area until a more permanent housing situation can be found. Wyman says the house has been undergoing remodeling since it was purchased about four or five-years ago.

Following the investigation into an accident that occurred on March 21st, the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office has charged 19-year old Benjamin Gerard Irlmeier of Audubon with Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, Failure to Report a Personal Injury Accident, Possession of Alcohol, Failure to Maintain Control, and No Inusrance. The accident had occurred on Quail Avenue south of Exira near Littlefield Drive. Irlmeier appeared before the magistrate Thursday, and pled not guilty. A preliminary hearing is set for May 20th.